Blog
Notes from the team
Privacy, self-hosting, and what it actually takes to own your digital life. New posts whenever we have something worth saying.
We sometimes use AI tools to help edit these articles. We always review them for accuracy before publishing.
- privacyArkCentral
Before you upgrade your family's shared album
iOS 27 makes Shared Albums full resolution and removes the 5,000-photo cap. It also makes every photo in a new or upgraded album count against the album owner's iCloud storage, including the ones other people add. Here is what changed, who pays, and what to check before you tap Upgrade.
Luc WynneSep 14, 2026Read → - privacyArkCentral
Is Gmail training AI on your email? What actually changed
A viral claim said Google had quietly opted everyone in to training its AI on private email. No settings were flipped, but the access is real. Here is what actually changed, and the two settings worth a minute of your time.
Francis YuAug 26, 2026Read → - cloudArkCentral
What happens to your data when a cloud service shuts down
Services get discontinued, acquired, or quietly change their terms all the time. If your files live there, here is what you are actually exposed to.
Francis YuMay 28, 2026Read → - familiesArkCentral
Private family chat without Big Tech, and how it actually works
You can have group chats, shared photos, and the everyday feel of a normal messenger without any of it touching a third-party server. Here is the plain-English version.
Francis YuMay 22, 2026Read → - privacyArkCentral
The hidden cost of free cloud storage
Free storage is not free. You pay with the thing being stored. A look at what the bill actually is, and why it keeps going up.
Luc WynneMay 14, 2026Read → - familiesArkCentral
5 ways to take your family off the cloud
There is more than one way to stop renting your family’s digital life. Here are five real options, with honest trade-offs, starting with the one we built.
Luc WynneMay 5, 2026Read → - journalismArkCentral
How journalists’ sources get exposed, and how to stop it
A source rarely gets burned by a dramatic hack. It usually happens through ordinary tools and ordinary metadata. Here is where the leaks come from.
Francis YuApr 23, 2026Read → - privacyArkCentral
What Big Tech actually does with your family photos and messages
The photos and chats on your phone feel private. Here is where the copies actually go once they leave your device, and what gets done with them.
Francis YuApr 9, 2026Read →